Allgemein

Driving a Wedge Between the Enemy  The wedge formation was particularly effective against a line formation due to its flexibility and great penetrating power. It was able to exert considerable pressure on a limited section of the line, thereby causing it to collapse. At the very front, at the tip of the wedge, fought the most…

A Rigid Grip  The warriors carried their shields by a rigid handle that ran across a recess in the centre of the shield-board. This was made of wood and was often covered with metal fittings. On the front, the handle recess was covered by a shield boss. This could take various forms and be made of a thin sheet…

More than just weapons    Military equipment hoards contain more than just weapons. Many everyday objects were also sunk. These finds show that warriors were not only fighters, but also private individuals. They bring warriors to life as human beings.   Some warriors went into battle richly adorned with gold bracelets and rings. However, lighters, tools and personal hygiene items, such as combs and tweezers,…

Metal and Power    Finds of military equipment from bog sites indicate that Germanic armies were apparently organised into a clear hierarchy. The number and material of the shield bosses suggest three ranks.    Two silver shield bosses, presumably belonging to the leaders of a group of warriors, were recovered from the most recent deposition in the Thorsberg bog. Forty shield bosses made of non-ferrous…

The bow    Bows were typically made from yew wood: the dark, hard heart wood provides the necessary tensile strength, whilst the light sapwood, with its pliability and flexibility, prevents the bow from breaking.     The string notches are positioned relatively far from the end of the bow. This shortens the effective length of the bow and may make…

The Last Shirt    Here we see the back of the tunic. Near the left shoulder, a small, hemmed hole stands out. A shoulder strap for the quiver or sword belt might have been buttoned here. On closer inspection, several cuts are also visible. It is possible that the garment was deliberately destroyed before being submerged.     Location: Thorsberg bog Material: Wool fabric…

Functional riding attire    The trousers resemble those worn by riders in the Roman Empire in terms of cut and weaving techniques. The sewn-on footwear prevents the trousers from sliding up whilst riding.    When discovered, trousers and tunic were tightly rolled up and placed close to each other, as if they had been carefully laid aside.    Location: Thorsberg bog  Material: Wool…

Lost  Sword from the second half of the 4th century with a damascened blade and a three-part antler hilt.   Location: Nydam bogMaterial: Iron, antler 

Ah, this gap, this appalling gap  In the world of Germanic warriors, women seem to have had no place. Only a few finds from the military equipment sunk in the Thorsberg bog, such as the two small fibulae, probably originally belonged to women. At other sites of this kind, such finds are entirely absent. The large fibulae also formed…

Fibulae from Near and Far    These fibulae belonged to women’s attire. Whilst the large fibulae are indigenous designs from the first century, the small ones are significantly younger. Like the other items from the Thorsberg war booty, they originate from more distant regions: from Funen and the Altmark in the north of Saxony-Anhalt.   Location: Thorsberg bog Material: Copper alloy